The public are currently being asked for feedback on plans to give police in Newport more powers to deal with anti-social behaviour.
Newport City Council is considering public space protection order (PSPO) to cover the area of Pillgwenlly, which would give Gwent Police officers increased powers to take enforcement action to "prevent individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour."
The order is currently undergoing public consultation following an 'Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee' meeting in February. A draft proposal of the PSPO published by Newport city council contains the following "prohibitions" within the restricted area of Pill:
- Refusing to stop drinking alcohol or hand over any containers (sealed or unsealed) believed to be containing alcohol by officers
- Behaving in a manner causing "harassment, alarm or distress" to members of the public - anyone breaching this can be ordered by an officer not to return within 24 hours
- Begging "in a manner which is aggressive or intimidating"
- Urinating or defecating in a public space or within public view
- Ingesting, smoking, possessing or otherwise using intoxicating substances
Cyclists, or users of scooters, E-scooters, E-bikes, skateboards and hover boards, are to dismount if requested to do so by an authorised officer
Throwing or dropping rubbish
Spitting saliva or "any other product" onto the ground
Engaging, loitering or soliciting on the streets for "sexual exploitation"
If passed after public consultation, the order would remain in effect for three years and would be enforced by the police and council officers.
It would give police the power to give individuals consuming alcohol or "refusing to surrender alcohol to an authorised person" a Level 2 fine (currently £500) or a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
Anyone breaking the PSPO by other means would be liable to a maximum penalty of a Level 3 fine (currently £1,000) or to a fixed penalty notice up to £100.
The affected area is between Mendalgief Road and the River Usk, and the A48 and Cardiff Road, and it follows another PSPO that was in place in the same area between 2017 and 2020.
In its February report, Newport council said: "The Previous PSPO for Pill was enacted in July 2017, contained 3 restrictions and expired in July 2020.
"Since then, council officers have been liaising with Gwent Police and other partners to consider the controls within the previous PSPO, establish whether they are fit for purpose, and to consider any additional controls required."
In comparison with the previous PSPO in place, the newly proposed PSPO includes the additional prohibitions of begging, urination, cyclists, littering, spitting and sexual exploitation - all of which have been included in the draft after a request from police.
Councils in Wales can implement a PSPO on any public space within its own area for a maximum of three years, which can be reviewed in any time.
If you are a Newport resident, you can provide feedback on the plans here.
